The pioneer of the Prince Edward County wine industry died Wednesday, Oct. 24 in Toronto. He was 76.
“Ed Neuser has lost his battle to cancer,” the Waupoos Estates Winery and Gazebo Restaurant announced. “Ed was an amazing man, entrepreneur and a dear friend to many. He has brought so much to Prince Edward County and will live in our hearts forever.”

Ed and his partner Rita Kaimins, purchased the 100-acre farm and century home home at Waupoos in 1983.

Neuser always chuckled when he recalled the evening he and Rita decided to try planting grapes. “It was after a couple glasses of wine, or maybe it was a couple of bottles. Everybody thought we were off our rockers – we had no experience growing grapes or making wines.”

They started with half an acre of grapevines in 1993 and added more vines every year. Today the Waupoos Estate Winery vineyard comprises almost 20 acres.

Assisting him along the way, insists Ed, was his loyalty and dedication of people like Kyle Baldwin who has managed Waupoos Estates for more than 15 years and is now its general manager.

On June 15th, 2001, Waupoos Estates opened for business and won a new business entrepreneur of the year award. In 2007 Ed and Rita received the Taste the County Award for Outstanding Contribution to the Tourism Industry and Business of the Year in the hospitality and tourism sector.

In record time it became a Designated Viticultural Area (DVA), won about two dozen wine awards and put the County on the world map.

“It’s been quite a journey,” he said.

Friends may call at the Turner & Porter ‘Yorke’ Chapel, 2357 Bloor St. W., Toronto (at Windermere Ave., east of Jane subway) for a Funeral Service to be held in the Chapel on Saturday, October 27, 2012 at 3 p.m., with visitation beginning at 2 p.m. Cremation to follow. He will be brought back to the County and laid to rest in Waupoos. A Memorial Service to be held in the WHATTAM FUNERAL HOME Chapel on Friday, November 2nd, 2012 at 2 p.m., with visitation beginning at 1 p.m. and at 4p.m. a celebration of Ed’s life at the Waupoos Estates Gazebo Restaurant.
For those who wish, donations to St. Michael’s Hospital Foundation or the Canadian Cancer Society would be appreciated. Online condolences may be made through www.whattamfuneralhome.com